North Carolina marriage amendment passes easily

North Carolina Tuesday became the 30th state to define marriage within its constitution as between a man and a woman when a proposal that had drawn nationwide attention passed easily with a margin even larger than pre-election surveys.

With all counties reported, the amendment passed by a margin of 61-39 percent.

Critics said the amendment was unnecessary because the state already defines marriage in the traditional sense, but supporters countered that North Carolina needed such an amendment to prevent a state court from legalizing gay "marriage," as has happened in Massachusetts, Iowa and Connecticut.

The final pre-election poll from left-leaning Public Policy Polling had the amendment up among likely voters, 57-39 percent. Historically, marriage amendments have outperformed surveys. Read more

Related article: North Carolina Voters Ban Gay Marriage Despite Objections From Obama, Clinton